The best Terrain years to buy are 2017 and 2021. Avoid the 2012 and 2013: the 2.4-liter engine burns oil and wears its timing chain, and wipers fail.
Best years: 20172021 Years to avoid: 20122013
Every Terrain year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Terrain problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 | - | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 41 | - | 2 | Fuel System | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 89 | 103 | 2 | Fuel System | Good year |
| 2021 | 36 | 76 | 2 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2020 | 198 | 230 | 2 | Brakes | Average |
| 2019 | 187 | 184 | 3 | Brakes | Average |
| 2018 | 226 | 198 | 5 | Brakes | Average |
| 2017 | 135 | 158 | 1 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2016 | 153 | 174 | 2 | Engine | Average |
| 2015 | 317 | 283 | 3 | Visibility and wipers | Average |
| 2014 | 302 | 288 | 2 | Engine | Average |
| 2013 | 370 | 375 | 3 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2012 | 370 | 378 | 4 | Engine | Skip this year |
About the Terrain
The Terrain is GMC's compact SUV. The 2010-2017 cars with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder are known for oil consumption, timing chain wear and wiper motor failures, and GM extended coverage on many engines. The 2018 redesign is better, though 2022 cars have fuel pump module complaints.
- 2010-2017: First generation. Oil consumption and timing chain wear on the 2.4-liter; wiper failures.
- 2018 on: Second generation. Lower complaint rate; fuel pump module on 2022.
Terrain warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins GMC files with NHTSA. 3,578 Terrain bulletins are on file in total.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Various vehicle makes and models listed may have a condition in which the transmission case leaks fluid due to porosity around a mount bolt hole.
Customer Satisfaction Program.
Customer Satisfaction Program - certain vehicles equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission may contain transmissions that could shift harshly.
Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have a condition where the owner manual lists an incorrect roof cargo load specification.
N182199610 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N192220760 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain 2019 model year GMC Terrain vehicles, equipped with the BLACK EDITION equipment package (RPO WJP) may have been built with chrome exterior components instead of the intended ...
N192266090 03 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N192266180 - Special Coverage - On some 2010-2012, and 2014-2017 model year Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles, a link ball socket in the wiper transmission may separate.
Special Coverage.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B101D stored in Telematics Communication Interface Control Module.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Terrain
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Preliminary evaluation PE20009 · 2012 · opened Jun 2020, closed Jun 2022
On June 1, 2020, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE20-009 to investigate instances of a momentary increase in steering effort after the vehicle is driven in a straight line for a period of time due to an issue with the steering gear in model year (MY) 2010 through 2012 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Ter...
Engineering analysis EA19005 · 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 · opened Dec 2019, closed Nov 2022 · led to recall 22V165000
On December 13, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded RQ18-002 to an Engineering Analysis (EA19-005) to further assess the MY2010-2016 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain windshield wiper failures.
Recall query RQ18002 · 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 · opened Nov 2018, closed Dec 2019
On November 2, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ18-002) to assess the scope of Recall 16V-582.General Motors (GM) initiated Safety Recall 16V-582 on August 3, 2016 to address windshield wiper failure in the Model Year (MY) 2013 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.
Terrain vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the GMC Terrain?
2017 and 2021. The best Terrain years to buy are 2017 and 2021. Avoid the 2012 and 2013: the 2.4-liter engine burns oil and wears its timing chain, and wipers fail.
Which GMC Terrain years should I avoid?
2012, 2013. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the GMC Terrain average.
Does the GMC Terrain burn oil?
The 2.4-liter engine in 2010-2017 Terrains can burn oil because of piston ring problems, which can also wear the timing chain. GM extended coverage on many engines for piston replacement. A dealer can check by VIN.
Based on 2,479 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.